Contributions
Abstract: EP1417
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Clinical assessment tools
Introduction: The multiple sclerosis (MS) community has widely endorsed the concept that minimizing delays in care pathways maximizes lifelong brain health.1 Recently, an international group of MS neurologists has agreed global quality standards for timely care.2 These new benchmarks - formulated as a quality improvement (QI) tool - will enable MS service improvement.
Objectives: To develop a QI tool, based on previously agreed standards, for MS care teams to evaluate their service.
Methods: MS healthcare professionals on the MS Brain Health Steering Committee collaborated with a clinical trial specialist to develop a globally applicable QI tool. The content was derived from the standards for acceptable, good and high-quality brain health-focused MS care.2 A pilot study is being conducted in selected countries to test clinical usability in different healthcare systems.
Results: The prototype QI tool has worksheets for data input, analysis and report. The data input worksheet requires the inputting of dates of procedures and events in the care pathway, and answers to binary (yes/no) questions. Embedded formulae compute 26 time intervals, compare data to the quality standards (acceptable, good or high), and generate summary reports.
The aim of the initial pilot study is to identify changes needed prior to a larger pilot study of approximately 250 patient records (at representative stages of the care pathway) at several international sites.
Conclusions: We developed a QI tool enabling MS clinics to compare their services against international quality standards for timely, brain health-focused MS care. Future work will focus on testing and refining the tool, before making it available to MS clinics worldwide.
References:
1. Giovannoni G et al. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2016;9 Suppl 1:S5-S48.
2. Hobart J et al. Expert consensus on standards for multiple sclerosis care: preliminary results from a modified Delphi process [poster]. Presented at the 7th joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS meeting, 25-28 October 2017, Paris, France.
Disclosure: J Hobart has received consulting fees, honoraria, support to attend meetings or research support from Acorda, Asubio, Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Novartis, Oxford Health Policy Forum, Oxford PharmaGenesis and Teva. H Butzkueven has served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen, Roche, Merck, Novartis, Teva and Sanofi and has received conference travel support from Novartis, Biogen and Merck. He serves on steering committees for trials conducted by Merck, Biogen and Novartis, and has received research support from Novartis, Biogen, NHMRC Australia, MS Research Australia and the UK MS Trust. J Haartsen has received consulting fees from Biogen, Merck and Roche. T Vollmer has received compensation for acting as a consultant, speaker or advisory board member for Academic CME, Alcimed, Anthem Blue Cross, Genentech/Roche, Biogen IDEC, Novartis, CellGene, Epigene, Rocky Mountain MS Center, GLG Consulting, Ohio Health, TG Therapeutics, Topaz Therapeutics, Dleara Lawyers, and Teva Neuroscience; and has received research support from Teva Neuroscience, NIH/NINDS, Rocky Mountain MS Center, Actelion, Biogen, Novartis, Roche/Genentech, UT Southwestern, F. Hoffman-La Roche, Ltd and TG Therapeutics, Inc. T Ziemssen has received grants and personal fees from Biogen, Novartis, Sanofi, and Teva, and personal fees from Almirall, Bayer, Merck, and Roche. T Lane is the Director of Clinical Research London Ltd and has received fees from Oxford Health Policy Forum. G Giovannoni has received consulting fees from AbbVie, Atara Biotherapeutics, Almirall, Biogen, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, MedDay Pharmaceuticals, Merck and Company (US), Merck Group (Europe), Novartis, Oxford Health Policy Forum, Oxford PharmaGenesis, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Synthon, Takeda, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and UCB, and has received research support from Biogen, Sanofi Genzyme, and Takeda.
Abstract: EP1417
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Clinical assessment tools
Introduction: The multiple sclerosis (MS) community has widely endorsed the concept that minimizing delays in care pathways maximizes lifelong brain health.1 Recently, an international group of MS neurologists has agreed global quality standards for timely care.2 These new benchmarks - formulated as a quality improvement (QI) tool - will enable MS service improvement.
Objectives: To develop a QI tool, based on previously agreed standards, for MS care teams to evaluate their service.
Methods: MS healthcare professionals on the MS Brain Health Steering Committee collaborated with a clinical trial specialist to develop a globally applicable QI tool. The content was derived from the standards for acceptable, good and high-quality brain health-focused MS care.2 A pilot study is being conducted in selected countries to test clinical usability in different healthcare systems.
Results: The prototype QI tool has worksheets for data input, analysis and report. The data input worksheet requires the inputting of dates of procedures and events in the care pathway, and answers to binary (yes/no) questions. Embedded formulae compute 26 time intervals, compare data to the quality standards (acceptable, good or high), and generate summary reports.
The aim of the initial pilot study is to identify changes needed prior to a larger pilot study of approximately 250 patient records (at representative stages of the care pathway) at several international sites.
Conclusions: We developed a QI tool enabling MS clinics to compare their services against international quality standards for timely, brain health-focused MS care. Future work will focus on testing and refining the tool, before making it available to MS clinics worldwide.
References:
1. Giovannoni G et al. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2016;9 Suppl 1:S5-S48.
2. Hobart J et al. Expert consensus on standards for multiple sclerosis care: preliminary results from a modified Delphi process [poster]. Presented at the 7th joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS meeting, 25-28 October 2017, Paris, France.
Disclosure: J Hobart has received consulting fees, honoraria, support to attend meetings or research support from Acorda, Asubio, Bayer Schering, Biogen Idec, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Novartis, Oxford Health Policy Forum, Oxford PharmaGenesis and Teva. H Butzkueven has served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen, Roche, Merck, Novartis, Teva and Sanofi and has received conference travel support from Novartis, Biogen and Merck. He serves on steering committees for trials conducted by Merck, Biogen and Novartis, and has received research support from Novartis, Biogen, NHMRC Australia, MS Research Australia and the UK MS Trust. J Haartsen has received consulting fees from Biogen, Merck and Roche. T Vollmer has received compensation for acting as a consultant, speaker or advisory board member for Academic CME, Alcimed, Anthem Blue Cross, Genentech/Roche, Biogen IDEC, Novartis, CellGene, Epigene, Rocky Mountain MS Center, GLG Consulting, Ohio Health, TG Therapeutics, Topaz Therapeutics, Dleara Lawyers, and Teva Neuroscience; and has received research support from Teva Neuroscience, NIH/NINDS, Rocky Mountain MS Center, Actelion, Biogen, Novartis, Roche/Genentech, UT Southwestern, F. Hoffman-La Roche, Ltd and TG Therapeutics, Inc. T Ziemssen has received grants and personal fees from Biogen, Novartis, Sanofi, and Teva, and personal fees from Almirall, Bayer, Merck, and Roche. T Lane is the Director of Clinical Research London Ltd and has received fees from Oxford Health Policy Forum. G Giovannoni has received consulting fees from AbbVie, Atara Biotherapeutics, Almirall, Biogen, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, MedDay Pharmaceuticals, Merck and Company (US), Merck Group (Europe), Novartis, Oxford Health Policy Forum, Oxford PharmaGenesis, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Synthon, Takeda, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and UCB, and has received research support from Biogen, Sanofi Genzyme, and Takeda.